Toad Hollow, From Afar

My goals return each year, a map
To learn, to stretch, to gently grow.
On every twenty-sixth, I choose
A quirky day few people know.

Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement
Feels human, hopeful, warm, and right,
As Mexican sun and bougainvillea
Turn quiet hours bright.

Back home, my friends face snow and grief,
A churn of storms and public lies.
How do I offer words of hope
From borrowed warmth and softer skies?

I fled the cold, the ICE, the fear,
Found welcome here like family,
While shots rang out—again, again—
And since dissolved in tragedy.

For hurting friends both left and right
Let’s stop the talk of hate.
Believe your eyes and not the lies
There’s nothing to debate.

So let this day remind us why
Encouragement is where we stood:
Not turning away, but facing truth,
Becoming better than we could.

Let’s find a way, together still.
For Pretti and For Good.